Triggerfish, Grey and Queen

Grey and Queen Triggerfish are found on rocky and coral reefs throughout much of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. They grow at moderate to fast rates, reach sexual maturity at an early age, and can release millions of eggs.

Grey Triggerfish is commercially caught in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic, while Queen Triggerfish is mostly caught in the Caribbean Sea. There is little information about the abundance of either species, but one report found that Grey Triggerfish in the Gulf of Mexico is overfished. Management regulations for these species include gear and area restrictions, and annual catch limits have recently been established in all regions.

Most Grey Triggerfish and some Queen Triggerfish are caught with hook and line gear, which causes minimal habitat damage and moderate levels of bycatch.

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Fish Key:

Species has a combination of problems such as overfishing, high bycatch, and poor management.

Some problems exist with this species' status or catch methods, or information is insufficient for evaluating.

Species is relatively abundant, and fishing methods cause little damage to habitat and other wildlife.

A fishery targeting this species has been certified as sustainable and well managed to the Marine Stewardship Council's environmental standard. Learn more at http://www.msc.org.

These fish contain levels of mercury or PCBs that may pose a health risk to adults and children. Our source of information is http://seafood.edf.org/. We also recommend that you check local advisories.